THE SHARK FISHERIES OF NORWAY. 527 
On hooking the shark, he is hauled to the surface of the water oy 
the aid of a single purchase. Each vessel is furnished with four of 
these, two on each side. The line, being small, is only calculated to 
bring the fish to the level of the water ; his nose is then hauled a 
little above the surface, a smart blow is immediately struck, by which 
he becomes stunned. A large hook at the end of a pole, attached to a 
strong tackle, is then driven into the fish, and by this means he is 
hoisted on deck. The belly is cut open and the liver taken out ; a hole is 
then made in the stomach for the purpose of inflating it with wind, 
which done, the hole is again tied up, the fish got into the water and 
permitted to float away. 
The stomach, being inflated, prevents the fish sinking, and soon 
drifts out of sight. By being kept afloat, the fishermen imagine that 
the carcase cannot injure the fishing grounds. The length of the fish 
varies from 10 to 18 feet. The value depends upon the size, quantity, 
and quality of the liver, which yields from one-half to two barrels, or 
from fifteen to sixty gallons of fine oil each. 
This shark is also caught nearer the coast, as far as the Waranger 
fiord. It does not, however, commence until the coal fish or sey fishery 
(the Merlangius Carbonarius) is finished, which is generally about the 
end of September. It is then continued through the winter, until the 
end of February, with deep-sea lines, in so-called " femborings " (five- 
oared open boats), manned by five men. These boats usually lie at 
anchor by a strand-rope made out of spun hemp. At the end of this 
a chain ten fathoms in length is attached, proportioned to the size of the 
rope, which connects it with the grapnel. This chain is, at the same 
time, secured to one of the claws by a smaller but strong piece of rope, 
which is fastened to the shank of the grapnel as well, so that, in case 
of need, it can be weighed by the claw. 
The lines used for this fishery are what are called Hambro' lines, of 
such a thickness that fifty fathoms weigh rather better than four pounds. 
The hooks are mostly home-made, of hardened steel, ten inches in 
length, with a curve of four inches in diameter. 
The bait preferred is either porpoise or seal-blubber. The hook is 
attached to a chain of about one fathom ; and the line with which this is 
connected, is served with sailcloth and twice with twine, to the extent 
of three fathoms, as a preservation against the line being cut after the 
fish has been hooked, as it sometimes happens. 
Here, likewise, a box with holes or a bag is sunk, as on the bank- 
fishery, containing blubber, for the purpose of forming a trail. This is 
suspended about ten fathoms above the bait. 
The line is retained on the finger, and, as soon as the man feels that 
the bait has been touched, he gives a sharp jerk in order to fix the hook 
more firmly in the jctws of the fish. Some skill and experience is re- 
quired to effect this at the proper moment, as the fish no sooner finds 
vol. vi. 3 H 
